Metatarsal pad



Aug. 19, 1941. R. l.. HEss METATARSAL PAD Filed sept. 30, 1940 Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED'A stares: PATENT oFFicE Application September 30, 1940, Serial N o. 359,155

(C1. SiS-71) Y 1 Claim.

This invention relates to mctat-ars-al pads, and its general object is to provide a pad that not only acts to properly support the arch, but cushions and massages the ball of the foot to correct its posture and eliminate defects thereof, especially calluses and the like on the ball or that portion of the foot bel-ow the metatarsalphalangeal joint, thus it will be seen that my pad removes and prevents one of the most common and painful conditions of the foot, as well as brings about utmost comfort thereto.

A further object is to provide a metatarsal pad that can be applied directly against the foot, that is between the latter and the hose, or it can be placed within the shoe and left free or fastened thereto.

Another object is to provide a metatarsal pad that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and is extremely efficient in use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

ln describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or correspending parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating my pad in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the pad per se.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 3 3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken approximately on line 4 4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that the arch supporting member I of my pad is shown as being substantially semielliptical in outline, that is the sides thereof are curved inwardly toward each other to provide a relatively narrow rounded rear end 2, while the front end portion of the member i is relatively wide and provided with a substantially straight front edge 3 that merges in curved formation into the sides, as best shown in Figure 2. The major portion of the under face of the member l is normally fiat, as shown in Figure Li, but from the front edge 3, the member lis abruptly bulged upwardly in curved formation to provide a thick front portion and thence gradually decreases in thickness toward its rear end, as likewise best shown in Figure 4.

The arch supporting member l is made from any suitable cushioning material, such as rubber or the like, and is preferably solid throughout its area so as to properly support the arch of the foot, but of course will give under pressure to bring about a cushioning action, as will be apparent.

Formed on or otherwise secured to the forward portion of the under face of the arch supporting member I is the ball receiving member 4 that is of substantially at trapezoidal formation with rounded corners, and increases in width toward its rear end, but in any event is of a width considerably greater than that of the arch supporting member to extend beyond the opposite sides thereof, as best shown in Figure 2, as well as extends forwardly therefrom to terminate at its front end a considerable distance forwardly o-f the ball of the foot when the pad is in use, as shown in Figure 1. The under face of the member 4 is flush with the flat portion of the under face of the member I, which is recessed as at 5 to fittingly receive the rearwardly extending portion 6 of the member 4 therein, as clearly shown in Figure 4, and the member 4 is beveled on its upper face to provide a feather edge therefor.

The member 4 is preferably made from sponge rubber and is provided with a plurality of perforations i arranged in row formation, as clearly shown in Figure 2 to increase the cushioning action thereof, in that the perforations provide air chambers when the pad is in use, as will be apparent.

In the use of my pad, it is either disposed directly against the foot and held accordingly by the hose, or is placed within the shoe and left free or fastened thereto, but in any event, the arch supporting member i is of course arranged to receive the arch of the foot, so that the member 4 will have the ball or that portion of the foot below the metatarsal-phalangeal joint resting thereon, as shown in Figure 1, with the result it will be seen that the arch is properly supported and the member 4 cushions the ball, as

well as sets up a massaging action thereon while walking and due to the fact that the pad in its entirety is made from rubber, it tends to cause the foot to perspire, thus softening any calluses made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A metatarsal pad comprising an arch supporting member of elastic material and being of substantially elliptical formation to provide a narrow rear end portion and a wide front end portion, said member decreasing in thickness from its front portion to its rear end and having a flat under face and an upper face rounded to the edges of said member, said member having a recess in the under face at the forward end portion thereof, a substantially flat trapezoidal shaped cushioning member formed from sponge rubber and having its rear end portion secured within the recess, said cushioning member being of a length to extend forwardly from the arch supporting member for the ball of the foot to rest upon the cushioning member for the latter to set up a massaging action against said ball for cooperation with the arch supporting member to remove and prevent calluses and the like on said ball, said cushioning member having a, vflat under face flush with the under face of the arch supporting member, and said cushioning member having beveled edge portions and provided with perforations for the major portion of its area.

ROGER L. HESS. 

